Process for the complete filling and emptying of receptacles, such as dust-carts



Nov. 10, 1931. J. BAUER ET AL 1,331,643

PROCESS FOR THE COMPLETE FILLING AND EMPTYING OF RECEPTAGLES, SUCH AS DUST CARTS Filed Aug. 29. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jzren/ars:

Nov. 10, 1931. J. BAUER ET AL 1,831,648

PROCESS FOR THE COMPLETE FILLING AND EMPTYING OF RECEPTACLES, SUCH AS DUST CARTS Filed Aug. '29. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,&

||i z a i ilH' l i HIM 1'1 1 l I l I|Q'% .7nrenfors 'ffii batk Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE,

JORDAN BAUER, 0F WURTTEMBERG, AND ALFRED UMBACH, or sTUTI GAE'Tf-UNTER- TURKHEIM, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS T0 DAIMLER-BENZ AKTIENG sE-LLscn ET, or STUTTGART-UNTERTURKHEIM, GERMANY, A COMPANY or GERMANY PROCESS FOR THE COMPLETE FILLTNG AND EMPTYING OF REGEPTACLES, SUCH AS DUST-CARIES Application filed August-29, 1928, Serial No. 302,802, andin the Netherlands September 5, 1927.

This invention relates to a process for the complete filling and emptying of receptacles, and more particularly of dust carts, in which the body of the receptacle is constructed as a drum and is equipped in the interior with single-threaded or multi-threaded helical conveying surfaces rigidly connected with the receptacle. The invention consists in altering the direction of rotation of the conveyer element during the filling of the receptacle.

By taking this step the'advantage is ob tain-ed that the receptacle can without difiiculty be completely filled.

If the conveyer element particularly a single-threaded worm conveyer, is only rotated in on direction during the charging of the receptacle, the latter only becomes incompletely filled, because at a particular depth of filling the material that is being conveyed falls backwards in the threads at its angle of veyer element.

repose, and therefore is no longer conveyed towards the side to be filled. If on the contrary, by carrying out the present process, the direction of rotation of the conveyor element is altered, the material no longer falls in the threads backwards but forwards, and fills the receptacle completely.

For carrying out this process the receptacle may itself be constructed with a con- For this purpose the conveyer surfaces are rigidly connected in one or more threads with the receptacle, and the receptacle is so arranged as to be-rotatable about its axis. A receptacle of this k nd is preferably closed at the back by a rotary wall which is pressed tightly against the receptacle and in which the filling device is inserted. To empty the receptacle, which is preferably effected by rotating the conveyer element, either the stationary wall or a cover therein is opened about ahinge.

For carrying out this process conveyer systems of any type may be used. The conveyer surfaces may for example be fixedly mounted upon a core or may rotate relatively thereto. Alternatively they may be arranged without a core.

The filling aperture need not of course be arranged only at'the back of the receptacle.

In order to indicate the correct moment i for reversing the direction of rotation, a device may be provided, adjusted for example either by the depth of filling or by the Weight of the contents. On the basis of the depth of filling indicated, the driver can then reverse the direction by hand, or else an automatic reversing device may be provided.

By way of example a reversing device actuated by the quantity of rubbish introduced is illustrated in the drawings.

Constructionally the problem admits of being solved by determining by means of a counting mechanism the number of dust bins emptied into the receptacle. In a simple manner this may be carried out by inserting in the margin of the filling hopper, at-the point where the bin rests while being emptied into the receptacle, a resilient projection which is depressed by the weight of the bin and thereby advances .a counting mechanism by one digit. As the driving power there may be employed either the motive power that drives the rubbish drum or else some extraneous source of power. If for example the dust cart is equipped with an electric starter for the motor, the battery of accumulators pertaning to the'starter may advantageously be employed for reversing the direction of rotation. In this case by means of the counting mechanism the circuit of an electric motor connected to the battery of accumulators is closed in the prescribed position. As soon as the reversing device comes into the new position it automatically interruptsthe circuit. The re'versal'may be initi'ated by also applying to the stationary cover a movable stop, which is displaced as soon as the rubbish has reached a predetermined level in the original .direction of rotation. The stop now switches on the source of power for reversing.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through able stop contact device,

Fig. 2 is a view ofia dust cart fitted with indicating mechanism from the back,

' Fig. 3 shows the indicating device of Fig. 2 on a larger scale,

Fig. 4 shows the device for switching by means of a hand lever,

Fig. 4c shows on an enlarged scale the stationary cover with the movable stop contact device of Fig. 1,

Fig 5 shows an automatic switching device actuated by a counting mechanism.

Upon the under frame of an automobile vehicle is mounted a drum a. The drum may be supported upon the vehicle frame in any convenient manner, for instance a threepoint support may be selected, a girder connected with the frame supporting the drum centrally at the frontend, while laterally supporting rollers may be arranged at the back. The driving of therotating drum in both directions is preferably effected from the vehicle motor by means of a toothed pinion c meshing with a ring of teeth I) on the drum, a reversing gear d being provided. It is also possible to provide the drum with automatic riving means, such for example as an electric motor.- In the mterlor of the drum are 7 secured surfaces e, extending helically for example, these surfaces-being secured at their outer edges to the inside of the drum and at their inner extremities to a shaft f passing through the drum. The worm conveyer surfaces e may be single-threaded or multithreaded. They may be connected only with the internal surface of the drum and left open at the centre. A

The filling aperture 'k is provided in the stationary cover 2', against which the drum rotates by meansof apacking 9. For the filling of the receptacle the drum a is driven L for example in one direction of rotation. If

an almost 100 per cent. filling is contemplated, the direction of rotation of the drum is changed afteradepth of filling of about 50 to 60 per cent. is reached. This change may be efl'ected either in the case of a singlethreaded worm or in the case of a multithreaded worm, since in both cases the degree 'of filling is improved. For the emptying .of'

the receptacle the direction of rotation"=-"of the drum is maintained, if the latter has been changed during the filling. The coveri is for this purpose raised about its hinge. An aperture for emptying may of course .alternative- 1y be provided at any other position, and similarly the filling aperture of the receptacle may for example be placed at the front.

On the cover 11 is arranged a stop t, which is displaced upwards by the rubbish as soon as the latter has reached the'level at which reversal is to be effected. The stop t actuates a contact at and thereby closes the circuit of a reversing electric motor 14. The device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 is constructed in the following manner.

In the rim of the filling hopper h is inserted a peg 1, which is pressed upwards by a spring 2. The pe 1 is so arranged and made so broad that wIienever a dust bin to be emptied is-rested thereon the peg is depressed by 1t. It then actuates by means of rod gear 3 a counting mechanism 4, upon which the number of bins emptied in, or a corresponding indication in cubic metres of the rubbish collected, can be read ofi. The driver of the vehicle will reverse the direction of rotation of the drum in accordance with the indications of the counting mechanism'by throwing over the hand lever s in the case of a manually acted reversing device.

In Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, the construction for automatic reversal is illustrated. In this case, by means of a counting mechanism and switch, at a predetermined position thereof, thereversal is initiated.

In the constructional form illustrated by way of example an accumulator battery 5 serves for this purpose. This battery is switched on by the counting mechanism shifting an electric contact 6, which then closes the circuit in the reversed position. It is assumed by way of example .that in the case of a dust cart having a capacity of 10 cubic metres the reversal is effected when the contents amount to from 5 to 6 cubic metres.

The drum is rotated by means of a shaft 7, upon which wheels 8 and 9 of a simple bevel wheel reversing gear revolve loose. The bevel wheel 9 is rlgidly connected with a toothed wheel 10, which is driven directly' from the crank shaft of the motor. Upon the shaft 7 is mounted a dog clutch 12, which is prevented by a feather key 13 from rotating relatively thereto and by means of this clutch either in one direction or the other. In the original direction of rotation of the drum the bevel wheel 8 is coupledto the shaft 7. Now as soon as'the counting mechanism 4 closes the circuit, the screw shaft 16 driven from the shaft of the electric motor 14 by means of the toothed wheels 15, displaces a rod 17 carrying the claw clutch 12, and thereby couples the bevel wheel 9 to the shaft 7.. Simultaneously with the engagement of the clutch, a projection 18 strikes against a cutout switch 19 and interrupts the circuit.

What we claim is 1. A method for the complete filling of receptacles comprising a rotatable drum having a charging opening and helical conveyor surfaces secured in the interior of the drum, consisting in rotatingthe drum in the one direction only so as to cause the conveyor surfaces to move the material charged into the drum away from said charging'opening until the amount of material fed into the drum III menace amounts to from to per cent of the capacity of the drum, then changing the direction of rotation of the drum and continuing the charging of material into the drum and rotating the drum in the said changed direction only for completing the filling.

2. A method for the complete filling of receptacles comprising a rotatable drum having a charging openlng and helical conveyor surfaces secured in the interior of the drum, consisting in rotating the drum in the one direction only so as to cause the conveyor surfaces to move the material in the drum away from the charging opening until the material charged into the drum has reached the level at which it falls backwards along the helical conveyor surfaces at the angle of repose, then changing the direction of rotation of the drum and continuing the charging of material into the drum and rotating the drum in the said changed direction only for completing the filling.

3. A method for the complete filling of recept-acles comprising a rotatable drum having a charging opening and an emptying opening and helical conveyor surfaces secured in the interior of the drum, consisting in rotating the drum in the one direction only so as to cause the conveyor surfaces to move the material in the drum away from the charging opening until the drum is at least half full. then changing the direction of rotation of the drum and continuing the charging of material into the drum and rotating the drum in the said changed direction only for completely filling the drum, opening the end of the drum after the receptacle is filled and rotating thedrum in the same direction for emptying the'drum as during the latter part of the filling.

4. A receptacle mounted on a vehicle for the collection of loose solid material, such as dust and other rubbish, comprising in combination a rotatable drum having helical conveyor surfaces securedin the interior thereof so as to rotate with the drum, actuating means connected to the drum for rotating the drum in either direction, a cover closing the drum at one end and connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, a other end of the drum, sealing means between said stationary cover and the drum, a charging opening in said stationary cover for the introduction of material into the drum, a movable member on the vehicle displaceable by a dust bin placed over the charging opening for emptying the contents of the bin into I the drum and indicating means operatively connected to said movable member for indicating the quantity of material fedinto the drum. for the purpose set forth.

5. A'receptacle mounted on a vehicle for the collection of loose solid material, such as dust and other rubbish, comprising in combination a rotatable drum having helical constationary cover at the Y veyor surfaces secured in the interior thereof so as to rotate with the drum, actuating means connected to the drum for rotating the drum in either direction, a cover closing the drum at one end and connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, a stationary cover at the other end of the drum, sealing means between said stationary cover and the drum, a charging opening in said stationary cover for the introduction of material into the drum, a mov-' able member on the vehicle displaceable by the material-fed into the drum and reversing means operatively'connected to the means for rotating the drum for reversing the direction of rotation of the drum and operatively connected to the said movable member, so as to be actua'table thereby on a predetermined quantity of material being fed into the drum, for the purpose set fort 6. A receptacle mounted on a vehicle for the collection of loose solid material, such as dust and other rubbish, comprising in combination a rotatable drum having helical conveyor surfaces secured in the interior thereof so as to rotate with the drum, reversible driving gearing operatively connected to the drum for rotating the drum in either direction, an electric motor connected to said driving gearing so as to be capable of reversing said gearing, a cover closing the drum at one end and connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, a stationary cover at the other end of the drum, sealing means between said stationary cover and the drum, a charging opening in' the drum, a switch for closing the circuit of said electric motor. a movable member displaceable by a dust bin placed over the charging opening for emptying the contents of the bin into the drum, and indicating means operatively connected to said movable member for indicating the quantity of material fed into the drum and to said switch so as to be capable of actuating the switch on a predetermined quantity of material being fed into the drum, as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A receptacle mounted on a vehicle for the collection of loose solid material, such as dust and other rubbish, comprising in combination a rotatable drum having helical conveying surfaces secured in the interior thereof so as to rotate with the drum, reversible driving gearing operatively connected to the drum for rotating the drum in either direction, ing gearing so as to be capable of reversing said gearing, a cover closing the drum'at one end and connected thereto so as to rotate therewith, a stationary cover at\ the other end of the drum, a'cha'rging opening in said stationary-cover for the introduction of material into the drum, sealing means between thestationary cover and the drum, a switch for closing the circuit of the electric motor, actuatin" means for said switch located in proximity to said charging opening and comprising an electric motor connected to said driv 4 messes a member which is adapted. to be depressed by a dust bin placed over the charging opening for emptying the contents of the bin into the drum, and a counting mechanism com 5 nected to said actuating means and said switch and adapted to actuate the switch to close the circuit of the motor on the member adapted to be depressed by the dust bin being displaced a predetermined number of times, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof We atiix our respective signatures.

JQRDAN BAUER. ALFRED UMBACH. 

